Derek Jeter?always knew where his priorities lay. Growing up in an environment where more kids chose basketball over baseball, the Hall of Famer?held firm to his desires. Although he ultimately achieved his New York Yankees dream, Jeter still tried his hand at basketball. Much to his chagrin, he was nowhere near an NBA-level athlete.

The former slugger later had a secondhand relationship with basketball through one of his friends, NBA legend?Michael Jordan. The duo has been friends for decades, but Jeter never pursued basketball professionally, unlike the former Chicago Bulls player dipping his hands into the MLB world. It all?started in his high school days.

Derek Jeter’s Basketball Skills Were Largely Unsuccessful

If there is one thing universally known about Jeter, it’s his competitive nature and desire to win, win, and win. He brought the same attitude to whatever sports he tried his hand at. Ian O’Connor dives into the former Yankee’s high school days in his book The Captain: The Journey of Derek Jeter.

Jeter’s school team was called the Kalamazoo Blues, where he played as a reserve player, being the designated shooter. As for how he got that spot on the team?

“In fact, when he tried out for the Kalamazoo Blues, a high-powered team on the AAU and summer ball circuits, Jeter won a roster spot simply by outrunning and out-hustling boys who had played on stronger junior high teams than his,” writes O’Connor on page 19. On the next page, though, one of his coaches details his teenage career.

?”‘Derek probably got dunked on more than anybody in the state of Michigan,’ said the Blues’ assistant, Greg Williams. Jeter never gave up on a possession, even on a breakaway for the other team. Derek always thought he could catch an opponent and strip him, leaving him vulnerable to the slam.”

READ MORE – Yankees Legend Derek Jeter, Who Once Played Basketball, Told Michael Jordan a 5-Word Truth on Why He Would Never Grace the Court

Although he had more talented teammates, Jeter still earned their respect simply because of his passion. He even refused to bow down to Michael Jordan’s greatness back then.

While Everyone Wore Michael Jordan Merch, Jeter Wore Pinstripes

The former Yankee captain garnered respect for his off-court ways, according to O’Connor. He wrote further that while the Blues went to tournaments, Jeter’s teammates could be seen sporting Michael Jordan jerseys or Detroit Pistons t-shirts.

However,?“Derek was dressed from head to toe in Yankees gear, including the omnipresent gold Yankee pendant dangling from his neck.”

He believed in his dream from the beginning and made it come true!

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